5 California teams in the top 50, if I didn't miss any and not many at all between 25 and 50. Just going by population CA should have about 6 teams in the top 50. If you add in the fact that CA is a warm weather state then it should most likely have about 10 of the top 50 with Texas, Georgia, FL, etc. having more than their population share's worth also.

The CA teams really do get overlooked in these polls. I think it is because with so many good teams in one area it is hard for the teams to stand out the way some teams do in weaker areas.

CADad,

There is another ranking list that has 7 California teams in the top 25. Also 11 in the top 50 and 17 in the top 100. On the same list Florida has 16 teams in the top 100 and Texas has 13. That makes 46% of the top 100 from those three states, with California being #1!

Anyway, I agree that there could be even more teams ranked from Cali. As well as the other two states. But you have to admit, 17% of the top 100 is quite a few. BTW, that CA, FL, TX thing holds true in player rankings as well. Often as many as 60% of the top players are from those three states. Add Georgia and it’s much higher. Then each year there is a new state that becomes a hotbed. Like Illinois, New Jersey and Utah this year.

BTW, Illinois and New York are both very high on the all time list of states who have had the most draft picks.

PG,
One thing that might throw things off is age. Generally speaking for a given grade players in FL, TX, etc. are older than players from CA. One only needs to go to the profiles that you post from your showcases to determine that. For all but the most talented players in the country age makes a difference and a team that is on average 6 mos. older than another team will have an advantage all other things being equal.

While one might take age into account when ranking prospects that wouldn't be taken into account when ranking HS teams.

BTW, I haven't seen them personally but it looks like that there are at least a couple teams in the Marmonte league this year that are right up there with Chatsworth. The one everyone is talking about is Thousand Oaks who has Chad Smith, Tyler Peddicord and I understand another pitcher in between them. They must be pretty strong on the mound because they've got the 2004 LLWS pitcher who throws low to mid 80s and knows how to pitch playing JV. I have seen Chatsworth play some, and they are good, but unfortunately Coyle wasn't there and they didn't use whichever of the other two studs who is a pitcher against our varsity. Their pitching looked solid but not spectacular, although people tell me the kid who transferred from El Camino was pretty good, but the key thing that made them look strong while I was there was how fundamentally sound they were defensively.

A lot of those teams are playing in the Easton Tournament starting on Friday so we should get a better idea of how they stack up early on at least over the next couple weeks.

CADad,

I've grown to respect your opinions. Please feel free to share them anytime. If you don't want to do it here, email or pm.

jerry@perfectgame.org

Most of what I've said is just based on hearsay. I saw that another ranking mentioned Newbury Park and Simi Valley from the Marmonte league.

I heard that Royal beat Long Beach Wilson during winter ball also.

PG,
Thousand Oaks vs. Newbury Park in the finals of the Easton tournament. Can I say "I told you so."?

Hi CADad -

I'm been lurking here for a while and thought I'd finally sign up and post. Do your son play in Marmonte league? My son plays and from what we've seen so far, this is a very tough baseball league this year!

I really think that three or four of the league teams could come out on top. This kind of competition is great for our boys to develop as players.

Are you going to the Newbury Park vs. Thousand Oaks game Saturday? I'll be there!

Yes he is, no we aren't. If it is a typical season about 6 teams have a shot. Only Moorpark and Agoura seem to be a bit weaker than the rest.

I found a Marmonte League preview by the Acorn newspaper available at http://www.theacorn.com/news/2007/0308/Sports/084.html

They say that TO is the favorite to win the league....

ProudSocalDad,
Hope you enjoyed the game.

Wonder if TO will get nationally ranked now?

CADad -

TO is the real deal. This weekend's tourney win should garner the media coverage that is warranted. Newbury Park was simply dominated, and TO is so very deep in pitching that a proper national ranking is called for.

Which sources do you check out for national ranking info. Baseball America? Chatsworth still might be the toughest team I've watched this year. That team has some incredible bats. Very, very tough team to handle.

But Marmonte is going to be a battle this year, I stick with the predictions that TO will win the league....

TO has to be the favorite but several teams could win the league. Several teams have at least one pitcher who can match up with TO's pitching and I think that they'll be saving their aces for TO whenever possible. I'd be very surprised if TO goes undefeated or even loses just one game in league as Newbury Park did last year.

PGcrosschecker & Baseball America mostly.

That's a GREAT point! Being viewed as the team to beat often sets you up to face everybody else's #1. Three teams at 5-0-0 in Marmonte prior to this week's start of league play.

How would you predict the finishes? My (admittedly uneducated) guess:

1) Thousand Oaks
2) Westlake
3) Newbury Park
4) Royal
5) Simi Valley
6) Calabasas
7) Agoura
8) Moorpark

Keeping my eyes peeled here:
http://www.maxpreps.com/FanPages/Group.mxp/California/B...28-acc9-18cce9d2818f

Hard to predict. Other than Agoura and Moorpark the rest could finish almost anywhere. I'd probably put Newbury Park at 2 and Royal at 3 if I had to make a choice but there's not much behind that. My guess is that Simi will be a very strong 6. Agoura has been improving and could surprise a few teams.

Now that I've had a chance to see some stats I'd probably drop Calabasas to 6th due to lack of pitching.

Nice to see Thousand Oaks in the top 50. As usual the teams are beating each other up in league. The league's last place team beat Newbury Park yesterday with Lambo on the mound for NP to record their first league win.

Thousand Oaks takes on Simi Valley for the league lead on Friday weather permitting. Simi played Moorpark yesterday so they were able to save Barnese to go against TO.

I saw the results of the Newbury game, but I can't find any details. I did hear that Lambo did not throw at all during the Phil Nevin Tourney. Maybe he was rusty (my son pitches, and I'm a BIG believer in regular mound work being crucial).

I sure hope the 70% chance of rain Friday doesn't ruin the matchup between Simi and TO (blasphemy in parched SoCal). With no other breaks available before the end of the season, the Marmonte League could end up coming down to a makeup game between these two powerhouses...

It's great to see matchups like this in a tough baseball league.

They'll probably play Monday.

CADAD and Proudsocaldad

I was wondering if any of my son's old teammates (07 & 08's) from the Simi Valley and TO areas are making any noise out there.

Here are a few that I think are playing HS ball:
Chad Smith
Jamie Mann
Mike Vineyard
Sean Gilmartin
Adam Barry
Jake Daulstraum
Ben Burg

We are a long way from California so I would love to hear how any of these guys are doing.

Hey Jerseydad, yep thery are still around.
My son played scout ball with Vineyard and Burg I think.
Gilmartim is at Crespi
All are very good.